Tampa Bay Rays

“I get a sense that, perhaps over the summer, there may be some movement,” Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn told the Tampa Bay Times Friday night. “I don’t know what it’ll be. But I think everyone recognizes that the status quo is not an answer.”The mayor was throwing out the first pitch at Tropicana Field for a second time in three seasons, while St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, who has to run for re-election this year and has butted heads with the Rays' brass, has thown out zero first pitches.The Times continues:Buckhorn made it clear he’s not going to “get in the middle,” saying he respects the position St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster is in and how much of an investment the citizens of St. Petersburg have made to the facility. Foster has said they’ve been trying to find a “middle ground” with the Rays, who have a lease at the Trop until 2027 but want to explore potential stadium sites outside of the city. Buckhorn said there “needs to be options because this is not going until 2027. It’s just not.”...“We don’t want to lose them,” Buckhorn said. “This is our team. This isn’t Charlotte’s team, this is not Las Vegas’ team, and this team deserves the best efforts to find a way to make sure that they stay.”Fortunately, Charlotte just gave all of its available cash to the Panthers and Vegas will never get a major-league venue built.But that, of course, just means that there's no rush for progress in Tampa Bay. Which isn't a good thing if you're as frustrated as Buckhorn with the Stadium Saga.

ROGER MOONEY ST. PETERSBURG Matt Moore, who has pitched the Rays to a victory six times this season in a game following a loss, will attempt to do that for a seventh time this afternoon when the Rays meet the Yankees at Tropicana Field. A win today and Moore…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Another injury marred a New York Yankees’ victory. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Tampa Bay Rays News

500!500!500!500!500!This is a big deal for Bulls fans. Congratulations to Charlie Montoyo for his 500th victory! Back in 1995 an infielder by the name of Charlie Montoyo was up in Pennsylvania playing ball for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, a Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A franchise. Last night he was back in town managing the Durham Bulls to his 500th win as their leader. For the record, let us say here that Charlie Montoyo just might be the best manager in minor league baseball. In seven years his teams have played 908 games and won 500 of them along with armloads of championships. You can look it up.Let’s just sit back an enjoy the history for a moment.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (29-19) While Roberto Hernandez is floundering in the major leagues, Alex Colome keeps bolstering his case for a look as he pitched solidly in the Bulls 9-4 victory last night. Colome pitched five innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on five hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. The Bull's offense chased the opposing starter, Graham Stoneburner, out of the game after only 3.1 innings, tagging him for six runs. They also managed two runs off of the tough Mark Montgomery. Brandon Guyer, Tim Beckham, and Juan Apocado each collected two hits, while Beckham reached base four times. Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (23-24) The Montgomery Biscuits clung to their small lead in a 2-1 victory over the Jackson Generals. After allowing a run in the first inning, Jake Thompson cruised through the next six frames. Juan Sandoval collected the two inning save, although he made it interesting by allowing four hits. The Biscuits offense did just enough, managing only six hits and four walks. Advanced Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (20-27) In a back and forth game, the Stone Crabs could not hold onto their leads, dropping the game 6-5 in walk off fashion. Parker Markel went 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs (one earned), two walks, and six strikeouts. The Stone Crabs quickly relinquished their lead when Christopher Kirsch labored through his 2.2 innings, allowing two more runs. The final tally came off of Eliazer Suero in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Brett, Richie Shaffer, Alejandro Segovia (who is on fire), and Hector Guevara each had multiple hits on the night. Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (28-19) The Hot Rods lost the first game of their double header by the score of 4-0. Sean Bierman and Nick Sawyer lasted four and three innings, respectively; both allowed two runs, although Sawyer did not allow a single hit. The Hot Rods bats were quiet, collecting only three hits and two walks. The second game was far better for the Hot Rods as they defeated the Great Lake Loons 4-2. After allowing two runs in the first inning, the Hot Rods pitchers kept the Loons off the scoreboard the rest of the way thanks to strong relief performances from Marcus Jensen and Matt Ramsey. The Hot Rods generated four runs in part by their six walks. Thomas Coyle doubled home two runs. CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOX SCORES Star of the Day: Jake Thompson gets the nod for his great performance. Goat of the Day: The Stone Crabs bullpen could not hold onto the lead. Today's Games: Durham @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV)Martin (5-2, 3.48) v. Cotham (0-2, 9.00) Montgomery v. Jackson 7:35 PM (MiLB.TV)Kelly (3-4, 3.81) v. Rufin (1-2, 2.87) Charlotte @ Ft. Myers 6:05 PMTBA v. TBA Bowling Green v. Fort WayneQuinonez (2-3, 6.15) v. Weickel (0-2, 5.46) DRaysBay Top 50 Prospect Stat Lines: Brandon Guyer: 2-5, 2BWil Myers: 1-4, 2B, 2 KsTim Beckham: 2-3, 2B, 2 BBsAlex Colome: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 KsMikie Mahtook: 0-4, 2 KsCameron Seitzer: 1-3, 2B, BBTodd Glaesmann: 0-4, 2 KsRyan Brett: 2-5, 2B, 2 KsJake Hager: 1-2, 2 BBsDrew Vettleson: 1-4, 2 KsRichie Shaffer: 2-5, 2B, KAlejandro Segovia: 2-3, 2B, 2 BBsKes Carter: 1-4, KParker Markel: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 KsAndrew Toles: 1-6, 3 KsTyler Goeddel: 0-3, KPatrick Leonard: 1-3, 3 BBsGranden Goetzman: 0-2Nick Sawyer: 3 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 Ks

Kim Klement – USA Today Sports Images The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to stay alive in the American League East right now, despite a relatively mediocre beginning to their 2013 MLB season. They’re currently in fourth place in the division, which obviously isn’t where they would like to be at all, but they trail the division leaders, the New York Yankees, by just five games. Of the success that they’ve had early on this year, their starting pitching has been the biggest reason why, even with David Price struggling and now being injured. Matt Moore has been pitching at a historical rate and out of his mind while Alex Cobb has also been more than reliable on the bump. However, the Rays are still waiting for some of their bats to come alive. Evan Longoria looks like a superstar once again and James Loney is on-pace right now to have the best season of his career. However, the rest of the Rays’ lineup has been inconsistent and most of them have struggled at times. Shortstop Yunel Escocbar, though, may be the Tampa Bay player who has had the hardest time at the start of this year. Through 42 games played, Escobar has 157 plate appearances, but has just a .211 batting average, only a .277 OBP and a paltry .629 OPS. He has four home runs, which is nice, but has scored just 14 runs and driven in just 17. Escobar simply has had a hard time getting on base and making things happen at the plate. Escobar, like many of the Rays hitters, should be able to turn it around as the season goes on. He’s never hit below .250 in a season before and never had an OBP below .300, so it’s likely he’s just in a slump at the beginning of the season. Even if that’s so, though, it doesn’t take away how poorly he’s played over the first two months of the season. Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20 and like his Facebook page.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brett Gardner, Lyle Overbay and Jayson Nix each drove in two runs, and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4 on Friday night. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Tampa Bay Rays News

Joe is back with his postgame thoughts…  Joe’s about had it with (the bad) Roberto Hernandez. This guy is getting lit up time and again and with the scant percentage the Rays have at returning to the pennant race, the Rays cannot have a starter throwing batting practice like this slug has been doing of late. Joe would rather have the good Roberto Hernandez, an original Devil Rays closer, start even though he hasn’t pitched in six years and is 48-years old. In his last five starts, the bad Roberto Hernandez has coughed up 18 runs.  This is simply not acceptable. Joe has heard how this guy, the bad Roberto Hernandez, is good at eating up innings. Hell, anyone’s grandmother can pitch on the mound for five or six or eight innings so long as a manager never yanks them. “Eating innings” is a misused stat (of course). It’s about getting guys out. And the bad Roberto Hernandez cannot. Exactly why is Chris Archer languishing in Durham when this slug, the bad Roberto Hernandez, is coughing up games with the parent squad? © Joe Rays Fan for Rays Index, 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags:

ROGER MOONEY ST. PETERSBURG Rays Manager Joe Maddon said Fernando Rodney remains his closer and that he’s not entertained the thought of moving Rodney to another role in the bullpen. “Not at all,” Maddon said. The Rays open a three-game series with the first place Yankees tonight at the…